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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: tube · squash · mug · board · safe · row · toast · can

  1. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. toast — a drink to someone
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mug — a cup
  4. board — a committee
  5. tube — the underground
  6. toast — bread
  7. tube — a container
  8. squash — to crush
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. board — to get on
  11. toast — the most admired
  12. row — to paddle
  13. row — a line
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — a face
  16. mug — to rob
  17. can — a tin
  18. squash — the sport
  19. can — to be able to
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. can — a tin
  24. row — a quarrel

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com